Fiberboard folding box construction



Jan. 28,- 1947. '9, CQNESCU 2,414,854

v FIBERBOARD FOLDING BOX CONSTRUCTION lNVENTOR @ATTORNEY f Sidney C'onescw I Jan. 28, 1947. '5, CONESCU 2,414,854

FIBERBOARD FOLDING BOX CONSTRUCTION A Filed Dec. 30, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToR ,Sidney Conescw ATTORNEY A atented Jan. 28, 1947 FIBERBOARD FOLDING BOX CONSTRUCTION Sidney Conescu, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 30, 1944, Serial No. 570,542

6 Claims.

This invention relates to folding boxes and more particularly to a folding box locking flap to hold folding boxes in set up condition.

This application isyaJ continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 519,9191/2, deposited January 27, 1944, and given the filing date of March 6, 1944.

It is an object of my invention to provide a paper or cardboard box which is cf the folding type and may be stored in collapsed condition in partially assembled relationship, but may be quickly set up. Generally, my invention relates to improvements in a type of folding box having folding sections and a locking flap of the character shown in the patent to Myers No, 1,188,092, of June 20, 1916.

In the Myers type of folding box, the body member or tray constituting either the bottom or top, has hinged thereto end panels and side panels about crease lines, and to each of the contiguous edges of the side panels and end panels there are interposed folding webs to direct the panels to lie at against the body member or, in the set up condition, to direct the panels in the upright condition, with said webs lying against one of the panels which carries a flap folded over the webs to lock them in the contacting position, and hold the panels in set up condition.

In this construction, the flap is generally medially connected to leave the ends of the flap free for spreading over the web and frequently adjacent the medially connected portion weakened lines of fold or slits are provided to facilitate the spreading of the ends of -the flaps, for their locking action.

This method of connecting the medial portions of the flap has led to difficulties resulting in tearing of the locking flap Where Staples are used to connect the locking flap adjacent its medial portion to the panel mountingthe same. Where I have connected the locking flap by pasting, frequent destruction of the connection has been experienced, as well as awkwardness in lifting the free edges of the locking flap to the web engaging position.

t Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide, in a folding box of the type aforementioned which has a body member comprising end panels and side panels hinged to the body member and connected to each other at contiguous corners by interposed diagonally folding webs and a locking flap to fold over said web wherein the flap has a medially connected portion leaving the vends of the flap free for spreading over the web,

hinging portions for the. ap.` These hinging portions are contoured to wedge or brace the free ends of the locking flap and provide bracing or wedging edges for frictionally deflecting said flap ends to a spread position. Still more particularly, it is my object to provide in a locking flap of a folding box, hinging portions in the nature of incisions of S-shaped construction, to `facilitate the hinging of the free edges 0f the flap. Still more particularly, it is my objective to provide, in a locking flap of a folding box hinging portions which brace or wedge the free ends of the flap so that the flap may be moved into web engaging position with great facility, and with# out destroying or altering the medial connection between the flap and the panel mounting the same. Y

By my invention, my improved construction not' only speedsup the operation of setting up the box but permits glue connections` to be used for the locking flap, with equal facility with staples.` Still more particularly, it is an object of my invention to provide in a folding box of the type described, a locking flap construction which is conducive to rapid setting up of the folding box and which minimizes losses in handling boxes of this type of box construction. i i To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, I make reference t0 the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of a blank for a folding paper box tray member in accordance with my invention; l

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the blank with the panels in folded condition, lying flat;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; I

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken on th Figure 6 is a, perspective view of the tray member of my folding box, in the flat condition;

Figure 'l is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the method of setting up the tray portion;

Figure 8 is a perspective view showingthe tray portion set up; f

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a detail of the locking flap.

Making reference to the drawings, I0 is a blank from which there is formed the body member IVI. Crease lines I 2, I2 and I3, I3 outline side panels I4, I4 and end panels I5, I5, leaving corner webs I6 outlined by the diagonal crease line Il, to define web segments I8 and I9. The segment I9 is arcuately shaped at 20, leaving the remnant of polygonal outline unaltered, for purposes which will appear more clearly as this description proceeds. From the end panels I5, I5 there are extended aps 2I, 2| defined by the crease line 22. With this construction I form generally S-shaped incisions 23, whose axial line is angularly directed to diverge towardg'thelcrease lne221, and" desir-- ably ona line from the edge of'tlieap directed to intersect the crease line at its extreme ends.

The blank I thus provided may be fed throughv a folding machine, during which operation appli-.- cators apply a lm of adhesive 24 to the Webseg ments I8, and remnant above described, and then the blank is fed through a folding contrivance tov hinge the panels I4, I4 about the crease lines -I3, I3 to bring the adhesive 24 in contact with the panels I5, I5.

At this stage, the blank is run at right angles through a folding contrivance, and as an incident thereof an applicator applies an adhesive lrn 25 adjacent the medial line of the flap 2| between .theincisions 23, preferablyv of a general trapezoidal contour. Thereupon .theilaps 2| are folded about .the crease line 22, to bring the flap 2| in the plane of the'p-anels I5, and connect the flap 2|. adjacent its medial portion between the incisions 23, 23 by. engagement of the adhesive film. 25with the' body of the panel I5. While a glue lm is illustrated and is preferred by me, other fastening means maybe employed to connect the medial portion of the panel 2I- to the medial portion of the panel I5in the area between the incisions 23.

The incisions I have provided, particularly angularlydirected and dverging toward the extreme ends of the crease line 22', contribute desirable'performance, especiallywith the connecting means which I have-illustrated in the f orm of glueor paste 25 for uniting the medial portion of the flap .2| to the panel i5, as will be more denitely particularized hereinafter. Upon bringing lthe flap-2 I into engagement With the panel I5, an

assembly more particularly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 will be achieved.

When lms-24 and 25 `havedried, theYtrayV-like segment may be set up by pryingup the edges of the panel I4 and pressing the thumbs against the hinge line formed by the incisions 23, especially deflecting the lobe 25 Iagainst the inner surface'of the panel I5, Enough frictional action is thereby received to temporarily Wedge thefree ends 21 of Ithe flap 2I in a defiected condition, to facilitate directing the Y freef edges 2'I over the corner web I6. The arcuate edges 22tcombinev to direct the flap 2| into locking engagement" over the segment I9, to bring `the segment20 intoengagement with the panel I5.

By the employment of hinge cutsor incisions 23 of divergent character, minimum spreading-of thefap ends -2'I isfnecessa'ry, -and- I thereby; mini* mize the'stress on-themedially-connected portion ofthe flap; 2I. Thisenables me successfully-:to use.v glue for connecting theflapf2| to the-panel I5, eliminating the necessity for the use of more rigid fastening elements,- such sis-staples, though not excluding the employment of suchA fastening means.

By the employment of hinging cuts of the-.contour illustrated, especiallyones which employ hinginglobes 2E which arev deiiectablefz-intotfens gagement with` the i inner f face of the; flap I l5,;1` .I may, in aA measure-bracevtherfreefed-ges'-2flz of: the locking flap 2I .inthe deflected Aposition,.vwithfsufe cient friction so that the operators hands may be free to set up the panel I4 and not find that the free ends 2'I snap back into the folded position before this latter operation can be performed.

The bracing action of the lobe 26 contributes materially to the speed of operation in setting up the box tray under conditions preventing applyingfanyundue stress :to the connecting portion adjacentfthemedial'section ofthe-flap 2| as force of the character heretofore necessary in resisting the tendency of the ap 2| Ito return toits normal folded condition need not be applied.

As the flap ends 2'I are brought over the web I6 in the position shown in Figure 8, the lobe 26 is deflected from its edging or bracing position, to permit [the natural resiliency of the locking flap 2I to cause the flap 2l to reassume the folded position shown in Figure 2 and to hold the segment I9 in position against the panel I5, to form the corner of the tray.

By this construction i-t Will be observed that I need not localize the attaching connection for the flap 2i close to the crease line 22 but I may extend the connection for a substantial area, thereby stilfening the panel I5 to a substantial extent, especially where I employ the film coating 25 as described.

My construction thereby enables me to use adhesive for uniting the flap 2I to its panel I5 instead of the more expensive staples- This not only permits a continuous folding operation in the manufacture of the box tray but makes possible the use of this connecting means Without sacricing the yieldability incident to the localized connection experienced With staples.

rlhe location of the hinging incisions of the character set forth not only facilitates the location of the folding iiap but by symmetrically disposing the S-shaped incisions about a line diverging from the medial connected portion to the crease line 22, the `stress and strain upon the glue joint is minimized,

I have also found that the stresses incident to locating, the locking flap 2'I in position Within a wide variation in depth of the side panels I4, I5 do not undesirably affect the location of the-locking flap over the web I6 in its folded/position and thatl this is accomplished by the arcuate edge 25 of ythe segment I9. Thus, while with boxes of rather shallow depth no considerable problemv is involved in placing the locking flap inposition over-the. corner web, with deeper'boxes greater deflection is ordinarily necessary andthe constructionwhich I have provided in the'formfof the arcuatefedge 20ffor the segment- I9 Idoes'not make thevariationv in depth of *thel boxes,any material problem in thisregard.

Inthe claims, where Irefer toa,:b,odymember I meanto vinclude .therebyl that p ortionofa foldingbox in `theform--of a: traywhichmay; con.- stitutefthe bottomy or top, Whether separable; or hinged together.Y

In general, it willl be observed that I p royi'deva folding. box'which is economicalrin construction and which canbe setupwith suchgsimplicityrand ease nas to. min-imizelosses, in handling;

Havinggthus :described my invention ,and;'ill11stratedits .usei what` I; claim as newf andv desirelto secure, by LettersPatent is: z

l. In afolding boxihaving hingedjsidefand'end panels; which.y are' edgewise; connected? to; each otherfby agdiagonallyY folding. web: arrangedI to; lie in the :set` up conditionxof@ the vbox against onel of the panels, said last mentioned panel carrying a locking flap defined by a fold, said flap having a substantially medial portion thereof connected to said panel to leave the ends free for spreading over said web, the combination wherein said flap is provided with hinging cuts to each side of said connected portion, diverging angularly substantially from the medial portion to the extremity of the fold for said ilap and having a portion thereof contoured to provide an outwardly projecting portion which frictionally contacts the said panel to hold the bent flap braced when the flap is spread for setting up the box.

2. In a folding box having .a body se-ction to which side and end panels are hinged about crease lines, with the panels `connected to each other at contiguous edges by a folding web to direct at least one of the panels to be flat .against the body member or to be set up, with said web braced in contact against the other panel wherein said last panel carries a flap on one edge to lock said web in the contacting position, said flap having a medial portion connected to said panel, leaving the ends thereof free for spreading over said web, and incised with hinging cuts to each side of said portion, said hinging cuts diverging substantially from said medial portion to the extremity of the edge carrying the flap, the contour of said cuts providing an outwardly projecting portion which frictionally contacts the said panel to hold the bent flap braced when the flap is spread for setting up the box,

3. In a folding box having a body section to which side and end panels are hinged about crease lines, with the panels connected to each Ii other at contiguous edges by a folding web to .direct at least one of the panels -to be 'flat against the body member or to be set up, with said web braced in contact against the other panel wherein said last panel carries a flap on one edge to lock said web in the contacting position, said flap having a medial portion connected to said panel, leaving the ends thereof free for spreading over said web, and incised with S-shaped hinging cuts to each side of said portion, said hinging cuts diverging substantially from said medial portion to the extremity of the edge carrying the flap, said cuts providing wedging lobes having a projecting portion which frictionally contacts the said panel to hold the bent flap braced when the l flap is spread for setting up the boX.

4. In a folding box having a body section to which side and end panels are hinged about crease lines, with the panels connected to each other at contiguous edges by a folding web to direct at least one of the panels .to be flat against the body member or to be set up, with said web braced in contact against the other panel wherein said last panel carries a flap on one edge to lock said web in the contacting position, said flap having a medial portion connected to said panel by a film of adhesive, leaving the ends thereof free for spreading over said web and incised with hinging cuts to each side of said por tion to facilitate said spreading operation, said hinging cuts lying along lines diverging substantially from the medial portion to the extremities of the edge deiining the flap, the contour of said cuts including offset portions providing an outwardly projecting portion which frictionally contacts the saidpanel to hold the bent fiap braced when the ap is spread for setting up the box.

5. In a folding box having a body member to which there are hinged about crease lines a p-air of side and a pair of end panels, edgewise connected to each other by an interposed diagonal folding web to direct at least a pair of the panels to be fiat against the body member or to be set upright thereto, with said web braced in contact against one of the panels, said last panel carrying a flap folded over the same to lock said Web in the contacting position aforesaid, said flap having a medial portion connected to said panel, leaving the ends thereof free for spreading over said web and incised with hinging cuts to each side of said portion to facilitate said spreading operation diverging from the medial portion to the extremities of the fold for said flap, the contour of said cuts including offset portions providing an outwardly projecting portion which frictionally contacts the said panel to hold the bent flap braced when the ilap is spread for setting up the box.

6. In a folding box having hinged side and end panels which are edgewise connected to each other by a diagonally folding web arranged to lie in the set up condition of the box against one of the panels, said last mentioned panel carrying a locking nap having a substantially medial portion thereof connected to said panel to leave the ends free for spreading over said web, the cornbination wherein said flap is provided with S- shaped cuts to each side of said connected portion, located on a line diverging from said connected portion to the extremities of the crease line of said nap, the lobes of said cuts having an outwardly projecting portion which frictionally -contacts the said panel to hold the bent ap graced when the flap is spread for setting up the SIDNEY CONESCU. 

